Corporate Culture

Corporate culture can be defined as the pattern of shared values, beliefs, assumptions, and working
habits of people working in an organization. It creates a working environment
in an organization and forms the basis for interaction between all the elements
of the organization. These elements can be employees, different departments,
processes, functions etc.

Martins and Martins defines, organizational culture as a system of shared meaning held by
members, distinguishing the organization from other organizations.

Arnold defines
organizational culture is the distinctive norms, beliefs, principles and ways
of behaving that combine to give each organization its distinct character. 

Edgar Schein
defines organizational culture is A pattern of basic assumptions invented,
discovered or developed by a given group as it learns to cope with its problem
of external adaptation and internal integration that has worked well enough to
be considered valid, and therefore to be taught to new members as the correct
way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems.

 

Types of Corporate Culture

·      Mechanistic Culture: This type of culture is static in nature where
emphasis is laid on following stringent rules and regulations. Organizations
that inculcate this culture mainly adopt bureaucratic administration to manage
their employees.

·      Organic Culture: This type of culture focuses on the accomplishment of tasks through the
collective efforts of people rather than compliance with rules.

·      Authoritarian Culture: In this culture, top-level managers take all decisions
that have to be followed by subordinates. This culture is based on a belief
that leaders have complete knowledge and they cannot take any wrong decision.

   Participative Culture: Participative culture promotes total participation of
people in the decision making process. This culture is based on an assumption
that people are important to the accomplishment of tasks, and if they are
involved in decision making, the chances of their resistance are reduced.